By Femi Bolaji
JALINGO — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) chapter, has rejected the constitution of a fresh committee by the Taraba State Government to review staff remuneration and workforce in tertiary institutions.
The union described the move as unnecessary and capable of further delaying the implementation of an agreed salary structure for university workers.
ASUU-TSU Branch Chairperson, Comrade Garba Mbave Joshua, stated the union’s position on Friday, October 2, 2026, at a press conference held at the union’s secretariat in Jalingo.
Mbave said the government’s decision to constitute another committee was coming after several verification, consultation, financial computation and reporting processes had already been concluded by government and union representatives.
He said the union had been negotiating the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria/ASUU Agreement with the state government since February 2026.
According to him, TSU remained the only university in the 19 northern states yet to implement the agreed remuneration framework.
Mbave said a government-backed verification team had earlier visited tertiary institutions across the six North-East states and submitted its report on September 22.
He said the report established that neighbouring states had implemented the agreed salary table without variations.
Following the verification exercise, he said, a tripartite committee comprising relevant stakeholders was constituted to determine the financial implications and accumulated arrears.
The committee, according to him, submitted its final report to the Ministry of Tertiary Education on September 24.
Mbave said the government, during a meeting on September 24, appealed to the union to suspend the industrial action it had contemplated following the expiration of its ultimatum.
He said the appeal was reinforced by a formal request from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service for an additional two weeks to resolve the outstanding issues.
According to him, the union subsequently convened its members on September 29 and agreed to grant the government the additional time requested in the interest of industrial harmony.
“Notwithstanding the frustration and legitimate disappointment expressed by our members, Congress, acting in good faith and in the prevailing interest of industrial harmony, nevertheless acceded to the Government’s request and resolved to grant the Government the additional time sought,” he said.
Mbave said TSU was among the institutions that had obtained approval to embark on industrial action but remained the only one that did not do so because the union decided to honour the government’s appeal for more time.
He, however, said the constitution of another review committee had raised concerns among members because it followed processes that the union considered already concluded.
“The constitution of yet another review committee, following the conclusion of the verification, consultation, negotiation, financial computation and reporting processes, gives rise to a legitimate and serious concern that the process is being subjected to further avoidable and unjustifiable delay,” he said.
The union chairman said members viewed the latest development as potentially frustrating the implementation of the agreed remuneration framework.
He reiterated that, to the best of the union’s knowledge, TSU remained the only university within the 19 northern states yet to implement the remuneration framework arising from the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement.
ASUU-TSU therefore called on the state government to proceed with implementation of the agreed remuneration framework, settle accumulated arrears and give effect to the outcomes of the verification and tripartite processes already concluded.
The union also urged the government to honour the assurances and commitments it made when requesting additional time to resolve the matter.
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